How much money do you get when you file for unemployment - Washington ESD weekly benefit amounts?

That's higher than I expected! So I'd need to look at my highest earning quarter specifically, not just my average monthly pay?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at your base year which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. They use whichever quarter had your highest earnings during that period.

How long did it take to get approved? I'm worried about the waiting period.

took about 2 weeks for me but I had straightforward employment history. no issues with my employer or anything complicated

I didn't know about the waiting period! So even if I'm approved, I won't get paid for the first week?

That's correct. The first week is unpaid as a waiting period, then you'll receive benefits for subsequent weeks as long as you file your weekly claims and meet the requirements.

The job search requirements are no joke either. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and document everything in WorkSourceWA.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or something?

They basically automate the calling process and get you connected to a real Washington ESD agent when one becomes available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Might be worth trying if I run into issues with my claim.

That sounds like there might be some confusion about your base period earnings. Did you have income from multiple jobs or any gaps in employment?

I worked part-time for 3 months while transitioning between full-time jobs. Maybe that's what's causing the confusion.

Part-time earnings during your base period definitely affect the calculation. Washington ESD has to verify all your earnings from different employers which can take time.

Is there a minimum benefit amount too? What if someone was working part-time or low-wage jobs?

Yes, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $295 in 2025. You need to have earned at least $7,670 in your highest quarter to qualify for any benefits at all.

That's a good point. Even $800 per week is only about $3,200 per month, which is less than I was making.

exactly. unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance while you look for work, not a full replacement for your salary

Wait, so if I get $800 per week, I should expect to pay taxes on that $800?

Yes, unemployment benefits are fully taxable as ordinary income. You'll get a 1099-G form from Washington ESD at the end of the year.

I had no idea about the tax implications. That definitely changes the calculation of how much I'd actually take home.

What kind of documentation did she need for the appeal?

Pay stubs from all her jobs during the base period, W-2 forms, and a letter from her employer confirming her wages. Washington ESD wanted to verify everything.

Are there any other types of benefits besides regular unemployment insurance?

There's standby benefits if you're temporarily laid off and expected to return to work, and disaster unemployment assistance during emergencies. But regular UI is what most people apply for.

That's helpful to know. I was wondering if the amount could change if my situation changed.

The only time it changes is if you start a new benefit year, which requires filing a new claim after your current one expires.

That makes sense. So I should look at my gross pay on my pay stubs, not what actually hit my bank account.

Exactly. Gross wages before any deductions for health insurance, 401k, taxes, etc.

I'm definitely going to check that out if I run into issues. Getting through to Washington ESD seems like a nightmare based on what everyone's saying.

Yeah the phone system is terrible. I tried calling for 3 days straight before giving up and just filing online without talking to anyone.

So it's not worth working part-time while on unemployment?

It can still be worth it depending on how much you earn, but you need to report all earnings on your weekly claim. They'll calculate the reduction automatically.

I made the mistake of not reporting $150 from a side job and Washington ESD caught it later. Had to pay back the overpayment plus penalties.

Can you really withdraw a claim after filing? I didn't know that was possible.

You can withdraw within a certain timeframe if you haven't started receiving benefits yet. But once you start collecting, you're committed to the claim.

What kind of technical issues did you run into?

the site kept timing out when I was entering my employment history. lost all my progress and had to start over. save your work frequently!

Thanks for breaking it down simply! That helps me understand the basic math behind it.

No problem! The Washington ESD website has all the detailed formulas if you want to dig deeper, but that's the gist of it.

How soon is 'reasonable'? I've been out of work for about 2 weeks now.

2 weeks is fine. Problems usually arise when people wait months to file. Washington ESD wants to see that you're actively seeking benefits because you need them.

I used Claimyr to get through to an agent about a delayed filing question. The agent told me up to 4 weeks is usually not a problem, but beyond that they might ask for an explanation.

That's really helpful math! I hadn't thought about looking for quarters with bonuses or overtime - I did get a decent bonus in my third quarter there, so that might bump up my highest quarter significantly. Do you know if things like vacation payouts or severance count toward the quarterly earnings calculation, or is it just regular wages and bonuses?

Severance and vacation payouts can be tricky - Washington ESD typically counts them in the week they were paid, not spread across quarters. So if you got a lump sum severance in your last quarter, that could actually boost that quarter's earnings for the calculation. Regular wages and bonuses earned during the quarter definitely count. I'd suggest calling Washington ESD (or using that Claimyr service people mentioned) to clarify how they'll treat any lump sum payments in your specific case, since it can make a significant difference in your weekly benefit amount.